Through our four-month long study of World War II, I have learned more than I ever imagined knowing about World War II. My viewpoint and everyday actions have changed.

In the beginning of our study, I thought that World War II was a part of the Holocaust. I gave little thought to how it affected anyone other than the Jews. Little did I realize, how much it affected the lives of millions of people worldwide. Eleven million people were killed, just as a result of the Holocaust. Anyone who threatened Hitler was at risk of being sent to a concentration camp or being killed on the spot. Gypsies, the handicap, intellectuals, Jews-all were harshly treated because of deep hatred.

Each one of them had a life, family, friends…the list could go on and on. All of them were affected by a single death. Now take all the hurting and emotions from a single death, and times that by 11 million. It hurts me to think of all the grieving that took place during the time. When talking about such large numbers, it is easy to think that one death didn’t make that big of an impact. All the mothers without sons, all the wives without husbands, it was an awful time for all.

That number does not even consider the number that gave up their lives fighting for the war effort. Some were drafted, some went for the adventure, all to stand up for their country. Through talking to my veteran, I have learned how important it is to respect your country and those who died for it. My veteran showed me how important it is to say the pledge with gratitude to those before us; they all deserve respect and honor for their brave deeds.

When I think about World War II, it is difficult for me to comprehend all that took place during the time period. It all started with such hatred, so much greed, the need to be the best, to have the best, to kill, to win. Unfortunately, some of that did take place, despite all the efforts, and the world will never be the same. It terrifies me to think that Hitler could come to so much power, and could have so much influence on the world. His charisma and actions tricked people into believing that as being part of his group, they were special. The people were drawn to him as if he was a superstar. How just one person could twist people’s minds and warp their view is almost beyond comprhension.

To put an end to the war, Japan was bombed twice with two atomic bombs. The radiation is still causing problems today. Through World War II, there was so much hate and so much destruction. As Albert Einstein once put it," I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." The world will never be the same.

My hope is that even though it may not be possible to cease all the hatred in the world, by posting the veteran’s stories, I hope that they might change the viewpoints of others. They sure changed mine.